Network of South Asian Professionals of Boston (NetSAP Boston) celebrates their successful year and picks new leaders

December 25th, 2008, Boston, MA - The Boston Chapter of the Network of South Asian Professionals (NetSAP-Boston) held its annual holiday gala celebration and Executive Board Election at Tantric India Bistro in the heart of Boston's Downtown on Saturday, December 13th. The event featuring a delicious Indian buffet, standup comedy by Corey Manning, music by DJ OM and an awards ceremony was attended by over 106 people.

As people decked up in their best formals and Indian ethnic wear mingled and networked with each other, Corey Manning performed Standup Comedy to entertain the audience. This was followed by dinner and an awards ceremony where NetSAP Boston recognized all their Board members and volunteers for their leadership, most of whom played dual roles in 2008 helping organize the regular local NetSAP events in addition to the National Conference.

The Awards were followed by DJ OM who entertained the audience with some lively dance music.

NetSAP Boston had many achievements in 2008 and the gala marked the culmination of a much successful year. The organization hosted the best NetIP National Conference ever in the recent history. NetSAP also increased its membership by over 51%, organized over 30 events and also increased its financial status by 115% year over year. The Alliance partner program at NetSAP Boston also grew a lot in 2008. NetSAP Boston supported 7 charities by raising over $3,500, members donated their time to 5 soup kitchens locally, and more importantly NetSAP Boston was able to create awareness about different causes among their membership and encouraged them to give back to the community. The partnerships that NetSAP builds allows it to give more value and a wide choice of events to members in areas such as professional development & networking, political awareness, community service and socio-cultural awareness.

The new Executive Board is looking forward to continuing the traditions and chapter legacy of NetSAP Boston as one of the premier professional networking organizations in the New England area. This year, the Board brings in many new faces into the team along with a few experienced officers from the past.

Comments Yash Chitre, Former President of NetSAP Boston and Advisor about new faces on the Board - "I have always found, that the key to NetSAP’s success and the reason why it is so popular and brings in big numbers for events is because of the fact that the board turns over every few years completely. The organization encourages new energy and expansion. Other organizations have lifetime executives that do indeed provide good strategic direction—but it gets old and boring very quick. The whole reason new board members get involved is because they can play a responsible role right out of the gate without creative limitation. They also have a chance to mold the organization and meet other like minded people such as themselves. That’s exciting!"

The group's 2009 officers include: Pallavi Chhabra, President; Chaitali Thakar, Vice President; Swarupa Purandare, Treasurer; Gayathri Arumugham, Secretary; Kunal Mishra, National Liaison; Sanjay Tamhane & Sonia Rai, Membership Chairs; Manoshi Vin & Harish Gulati as Social Chairs; Sonit Seth & Kalyan Bemalkhedkar as Professional Chairs; Rishi Popat & Michael Dwan Singh as Cultural/Theatrics Chairs; Saru Mahajan, Community Service Chair; Rashi Mittal as Sponsorship Chair and Shiva Pattamadai, Website Director.

Outgoing President Tushneem Dharmagadda will continue to serve on the Advisory Board for the organization along with Past Presidents Nishith Acharya, Yash Chitre and Kas Sharma. The creation of a more formal Advisory structure in 2009 intends to help the Executive Board to continue the enormous growth that the organization achieved in the past 4 years. Other longtime Board members such as Usha Govindarajulu, Theatrics Chair (2005 - 2008), Vijay Daryanani, Treasurer & Social Chair (2000 - 2008) and Sheila Rajan, Secretary (2006 - 2008) also intend to help the Board in advisory roles.

President for last 2 years, Tushneem Dharmagadda said, "Serving NetSAP Boston for the last 5 years in various capacities has been a great experience. During my leadership roles NetSAP Boston has grown at an amazing pace. We introduced several unique events catering to Theater, Cultural Awareness, Social and Professional Networking. We were also voted as the Best Chapter 3 times in a row. NetSAP commands respect today and every organization in New England looks upto us including other NetIP chapters. Today, NetSAP Boston is also very strong financially than it ever was in its entire history, thus being in position to support smaller non-profits and charities. I wish the new team luck in carrying this forward and growing the organization further."

Incoming President, Pallavi Chhabra who most recently served as the Vice President of NetSAP Boston remarked "I am excited to lead NetSAP in 2009. It is definitely challenging because of where the organization is today. We need to perform much better and live up to the high expectations of our members that we set in the prior years. I am looking forward to everyone's support next year."

Holiday Gala set the trend for a successful year ahead for NetSAP Boston. The party and socializing continued till late in the night. For more pictures from the event which will be posted soon, visit the NetSAP-Boston website. Promotions for 2009 membership are open and NetSAP encourages people to take advantage of it.

About NetSAP Boston: The Network of South Asian professionals of Boston (NetSAP Boston),which is the leading chapter of NetIP, includes professionals from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and other regions of South Asia. NetSAP is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to serving the professional, political, cultural and civic needs of the South Asian community in the Greater Boston and New England area. NetSAP Boston promotes diversity that is unrivaled by most organizations. For three consecutive years (including 2008), NetSAP Boston has been awarded the "Best Large Chapter Award" by NetIP North America in recognition for its outstanding initiatives.

The leadership of Mr. T

This article is inspired by the leadership and dedication of Tushneem Dharmagadda, outgoing Netsap-Boston President. Having served two terms as president and five years all together on the board, Tushneem is bound for even bigger and greater opportunities. During his term, Tushneem worked to change the image of Netsap from one of just a mere social organization to one that promotes all the pillars of Netsap: community service, cultural activities, and professional development. Tushneem sought to strengthen each area in its own right with no area left untouched. In addition, his hard work at obtaining sponsorship allowed the organization to put on bigger and better events than ever imagined before.



During his term on the board, Netsap-Boston won the Best Chapter award from NetIP three years in a row, including this year. In addition, Tushneem worked relentessly to organize the annual NetIP conference to be held in Boston this year. It is largely through his tireless efforts, support of all volunteers, and vision that this conference was well-attended and a huge success. The last night of the conference, other chapter leaders sought out Tushneem's advice for their future events as they realize Tushneem's success comes from his foresight to plan and execute great events.



Every event is put on with a sense of passion and meaning as guided through Tushneem. The chapter has evolved greatly during his last five years. Tushneem's dedicated work of operating almost single-handedly without other support was truly his greatest endeavor for the organization. Many board members and volunteers appreciated serving with a strong leader who worked for them to bring all events to full potential. It would be difficult to replace Tushneem, but it will be easy to pickup where he left off since he has set Netsap-Boston in a great place from which to start.



Congratulations to Tushneem for all his hard work and dedication to the board and to the members of Netsap-Boston as well as to the community. We wish him all the best of luck!



Sincerely,



Usha Govindarajulu

outgoing Cultural/Theatrics Chair of Netsap-Boston

Press Coverage of the Candlelight vigil for victims of terrorism

NetSAP Boston would like to thank all those who came for the Candlelight vigil on Thursday, 4th December, 2008. By coming together as one, we were showed that we were all united against acts of terrorism everywhere. It also meant a lot for the people affected by the recent attack in Mumbai. NetSAP Boston was one of the Sponsoring Organizations' for this event which was also supported by over two dozen other organizations from across the spectrum. Boston Mayor Thomas Menino and several other religious leaders from all faiths spoke at the Vigil in Boston.

Message by Congressman Barney Frank supporting the Vigil

Congressman Barney Frank recommended the insertion of the statement drafted by the Asian American Commission on behalf of all participating organizations into the Congressional Record.

Click here to read the recommendation.

For pictures from the event held at Boston, Providence and Worcester click here

The candlelight vigil was covered by the press in Boston and here are the links:

WBZ TV Video of the Vigil
http://wbztv.com/video/?id=69930@wbz.dayport.com

Worcester Telegram Story
http://www.telegram.com/article/20081205/NEWS/812050715/1116

Providence Journal
http://www.projo.com/news/content/INDIAN_MEMORIAL_12-05-08_FBCHHQL_v12.3bc43fc.html

WBZ TV Article
http://wbztv.com/local/mumbai.candlelight.vigil.2.880287.html

The Boston Herald
http://bostonherald.com/news/regional/view.bg?articleid=1136978

Also read NetSAP Boston condemns Terror in India & sends its condolences

Candle light vigil to show unity and remember victims of terrorism - 6pm on December 4th

A Candlelight Vigil

Remembering Friends, Family and all those lost and hurt in the Terrorist Attacks in Mumbai, India November 26-29, 2008

NetSAP Boston, The Asian American Commission of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and 15 other organizations invite Americans of all faiths to join in a Candlelight Vigil on December 4, 6 PM at City Hall Plaza, Boston, Massachusetts

Click here for the program outline

Many South Asian and American organizations from the region will be joining us in this vigil

Simultaneous events are being held at City Hall in Worcester and on the State House steps in Providence, RI

Statement:

We are saddened by the loss of so many in Mumbai, India this past week because of the actions of a few terrorists. We offer our deepest condolences to their families and pray for the speedy recovery of those who were hurt. We applaud the heroic actions of the police, firefighters, armed forces and the staff of the hotels, restaurants, train stations and hospitals and all concerned citizens who helped to stop the terrorists and rescue and guide people to safety.

In this global village, like the United States, India is a democracy with rights for every man, woman and child, regardless of religious or ethnic origin; a secular country with tolerance for many faiths; and a strong tradition of cooperation among its many ethnic, religious, and linguistic communities. India also serves as a positive influence for many people here and in countries around the world through its strong traditions, contributions to culture, political leadership, trade and world economic development.

As the world’s largest democracy, India's represents a religious cross-section of Hindus, Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Jews, Buddhists and people of every faith that have traditionally lived in harmony. Unfortunately, there are a few who seek to sow divisions and cause harm to its people, its economy, to all those who visit or wish to do business with India. We believe that terrorism affects us all and we must all unite and act to defeat this common enemy.

As Asians and Americans we are all part of a global village and strongly condemn these heinous acts. No matter where terror raises its ugly head, it impacts all the citizens of the world. We believe that by coming together as a community to show support to the bereaved and by fostering greater bonds between all peoples and faiths here at home and across the globe that we will be able to stop such hate .

Also read NetSAP Boston condemns Terror in India & sends its condolences

NetSAP Boston condemns Terror in India & sends its condolences

Boston, Sunday 29th November 2008: Network of South Asian Professionals of Boston (NetSAP Boston) strongly condemns the terrorist attacks in Mumbai, the financial capital of India. The organization also expresses condolences to all the families of innocent victims who lost their lives in this attack including the officials who laid down their life fighting the terrorists.

NetSAP Boston executive board and its members who are first and second generation Indians have strong ties back to the country. What angers and frustrates many is the magnitude and the type of attack in Mumbai. Moreover, this event which was preceded by terror attacks in other prominent cities like Hyderabad, Bangalore, Delhi, and Ahmedabad over last two years, seemed like a nail in the coffin. Many have in fact lost patience with the political establishment in India which despite the several recent attacks failed to prevent or move in quickly to mitigate the loss.

While political awareness has been a pillar that NetSAP Boston focuses on, this incident highlights an important issue that many other non-profits and NGOs should focus on in addition to their other developmental activities. What good is development and growth without peace. Indian politicians are bent upon dividing people on race, region, caste, and language hardly focusing on the important issues that matter to the people including security. Since years NetSAP Boston has worked with several alliance partners and helped them with fundraising and other developmental initiatives. Today, NetSAP Boston pledges its support to Indian NGOs and non-profits here in Boston to help create non-partisan political awareness in India about these issues. It is also time that the young Indian generation who are against terror and want to bring about change in India joined our organization and made their voices heard.

Our hearts and prayers are with all the people and families in India who are undergoing this trauma.

NetSAP Boston is also planning to hold a candle light vigil to show the support of the strong Indian American community to the people in India. We are talking to many of our partner organizations to join us in this effort. If you are a representative of an organization and want to support this cause with us please email Tushneem Dharmagadda, President, NetSAP Boston or Chindu Satheesh, Community Chair. Details will be posted on our website soon.

Update: Candle light vigil to show unity and remember victims of terrorism - 6pm on December 4th

Meanwhile NetSAP encourages its members to use its forums at www.netsapboston.org/forums to discuss more about this issue and to send in their comments. We believe that Mumbai is resilient and will spring back to normalcy soon. A tribute to Mumbai is this old song from CID - "Yeh Hai Bombay Meri Jaan"



On behalf of NetSAP Boston Team
Tushneem Dharmagadda

Vote for the 2009 NetSAP Boston Executive Board

Dear NetSAP Members,

The final nominations for the NetSAP Boston 2008 Executive Board are in. Click on the names of the candidates to view their letters of intent.

Process for voting: All 2008 and 2009 NetSAP Members are eligible to vote in the elections. Voting will be carried out for the positions of President, Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary and National Liaison which makes up the Board of Directors for the organization.  The BoD will then finalize the nominations of the other chair positions on the Board.

For uncontested positions, members will have an option to challenge the candidate and voice any issues they may have. If not the candidates will be considered unanimously elected.

Each candidate brings lot of passion, commitment and energy to the NetSAP board. When deciding to vote make sure to read their letters of intent to learn about their strengths. While new candidates may bring fresh ideas to the table, candidates with prior stint with NetSAP will bring in enormous experience. It is this mix that has helped NetSAP Boston grow tremendously over last few years. How can you vote: This year members will have two options for voting. You can vote in person at our holiday party and elections event on Saturday, December 13th, 2008. Alternately, you can vote online through the voting link that will be sent out to your email in the next week or so. The voting process will end on 13th December and all votes will be anonymous. Lastly, we'd like to thank the candidates for stepping forward and volunteering to take NetSAP Boston to the next level. We'd also like to thank you for taking the time to choose the next leadership. If you have any questions feel free to email Tushneem Dharmagadda, President, NetSAP Boston 2008 and elections officer at tushneem.dharmagadda@netsapboston.org

Position Responsibilities & Duties The following positions on the 2009 Executive Board are contested (Click on the names below to view the candidate's letter of intent) President Provide leadership, vision and guidance to the team in all areas.Manage the overall flow of activities and events. Nominees: Kunal Mishra,    Pallavi Chhabra Vice President Responsible for creating alliance partner relationships, external communications and building the NetSAP-Boston brand. Coordinate all teams (social, professional, community, cultural, membership and sponsorship). Work hand-in-glove with the President in all these activities Nominees: Chaitali Thakar Treasurer Oversee and manage finance for NetSAP-Boston, including generating periodical reports. Maintains all financial records. Work hand-in-glove with Sponsorship Chair in building the financial status of NetSAP-Boston Nominees: Swarupa Purandare Secretary Responsible for, managing internal communications, board meetings and newsletter. Keep an on-going record of all activities and events. Help President and Vice-President coordinate all teams. Nominees: Gayathri Arumugham National Liaison Coordinate communication between NetIP-NA and NetSAP-Boston. Attend all meetings and conference calls and represent NetSAP-Boston in the National organization. Work with respective Chairs and develop initiatives at NetSAP-Boston with National significance. This includes membership incentives and sponsorship opportunities. Nominees: Manoshi Vin The following positions on the 2009 Executive Board are finalized by the President & Board of Directors (Vice President, Treasurer, & Secretary) Website Director Multiple Openings Maintain, update and develop the NetSAP Boston website; Assist with all web-related NetSAP activities including forums. Requires knowledge of basic HTML and JavaScript. Knowledge of PHP scripting language preferred. Nominees: Sivashankar Pattamadai Membership / Marketing Chair  Multiple Openings Take a proactive role in constantly increasing membership base by devising new strategies; Manage all marketing-related activities for the organization and Alliance partner relationships. Nominees: Sonia Rai,    Sanjay Tamhane Sponsorship Chair Multiple Openings Responsible for securing sponsors for NetSAP-Boston. This key position involves building relationships and securing sponsorships from corporations and other potential local organizations to achieve annual sponsorship goals to support NetSAP-Boston Nominee: Rashi Mittal Social / Networking Events Chairs Multiple Openings Develop and manage all social & networking events; Organize all monthly social events; Organize an additional 4 to 6 networking events per year. Nominees: Harish Gulati Professional Development Chairs Multiple Openings Develop and manage all professional development events which include panel discussions, speaker series, and mentoring events; Organize 6 to 8 professional events per year. Nominees: Sonit Seth, Kalyan Bemalkhedkar Cultural/Theatrics Chair Multiple Openings Develop and manage all cultural/theatrics events which include Gala events, celebration of festivals, Chai chats and plays; Organize 3 to 4 cultural events per year. Nominees: Rishi Popat,  Michael Dwan Singh Community Service Events Chair Multiple Openings Develop and manage all community service initiatives which include volunteering events, fund-raising initiatives and social entrepreneurship panels; Organize 3 to 4 community events per year. Nominees: Saru Mahajan NetSAP Forum Moderators Multiple Openings Moderate and maintiain User-Forum on the NetSAP website. Open

For further questions and clarifications feel free to email Tushneem Dharmagadda, President, NetSAP Boston 2008 and elections officer at tushneem.dharmagadda@netsapboston.org

Thank you

NetSAP Boston Executive Board 2008

NetSAP Boston 2009 Executive Board Nominations and Extended Deadline (15th November 2008)

Here are the nominations for the 2009 NetSAP Boston Executive Board. The deadline is extended till 15th November 2009. To declare your candidacy, submit one-page letter of intent to Tushneem Dharmagadda, President, NetSAP Boston & Elections Officer at tushneem.dharmagadda@netsapboston.org.

Members are encouraged to sign up for open positions or a position of interest (from the non-open ones too). Voting will most likely take place on or before December 13th 2008.

Click here for details on the The letter of intent and Board Member responsibilities.

Position Responsibilities & Duties Avg. Time Commitment The following positions on the 2009 Executive Board are contested President Provide leadership, vision and guidance to the team in all areas.Manage the overall flow of activities and events. Nominees: Kunal Mishra 8-10 hours / week Vice President Responsible for creating alliance partner relationships, external communications and building the NetSAP-Boston brand. Coordinate all teams (social, professional, community, cultural, membership and sponsorship). Work hand-in-glove with the President in all these activities Nominees: Chaitali Thakar, Usha Govindarajulu 6-8 hours / week Treasurer Oversee and manage finance for NetSAP-Boston, including generating periodical reports. Maintains all financial records. Work hand-in-glove with Sponsorship Chair in building the financial status of NetSAP-Boston Nominees: Swarupa Purandare 4-6 hours / week Secretary Responsible for, managing internal communications, board meetings and newsletter. Keep an on-going record of all activities and events. Help President and Vice-President coordinate all teams. Nominees: Gayathri Arumugham 4-6 hours / week National Liaison Coordinate communication between NetIP-NA and NetSAP-Boston. Attend all meetings and conference calls and represent NetSAP-Boston in the National organization. Work with respective Chairs and develop initiatives at NetSAP-Boston with National significance. This includes membership incentives and sponsorship opportunities. Nominees: Manoshi Vin 2-4 hours / week The following positions on the 2009 Executive Board are finalized by the President & Board of Directors (Vice President, Treasurer, & Secretary) Website Director Multiple Openings Maintain, update and develop the NetSAP Boston website; Assist with all web-related NetSAP activities including forums. Requires knowledge of basic HTML and JavaScript. Knowledge of PHP scripting language preferred. Nominees: Sivashankar Pattamadai 3-5 hours / week Membership / Marketing Chair Multiple Openings Take a proactive role in constantly increasing membership base by devising new strategies; Manage all marketing-related activities for the organization and Alliance partner relationships. Nominees: Sonia Rai, Sanjay Tamhane 3-5 hours / week Sponsorship Chair Multiple Openings Responsible for securing sponsors for NetSAP-Boston. This key position involves building relationships and securing sponsorships from corporations and other potential local organizations to achieve annual sponsorship goals to support NetSAP-Boston Open 3-5 hours / week Social / Networking Events Chairs Multiple Openings Develop and manage all social & networking events; Organize all monthly social events; Organize an additional 4 to 6 networking events per year. Nominees: Kalyan Bemalkhedkar, Harish Gulati 3-5 hours / week Professional Development Chairs Multiple Openings Develop and manage all professional development events which include panel discussions, speaker series, and mentoring events; Organize 6 to 8 professional events per year. Nominees: Sonit Seth 3-5 hours / week Cultural/Theatrics Chair Multiple Openings Develop and manage all cultural/theatrics events which include Gala events, celebration of festivals, Chai chats and plays; Organize 3 to 4 cultural events per year. Nominees: Sivashankar Pattamadai, Rishi Popat 3-5 hours / week Community Service Events Chair Multiple Openings Develop and manage all community service initiatives which include volunteering events, fund-raising initiatives and social entrepreneurship panels; Organize 3 to 4 community events per year. Nominees: Saru Mahajan 3-5 hours / week NetSAP Forum Moderators Multiple Openings Moderate and maintiain User-Forum on the NetSAP website. Open 3-5 hours / week
	Please Submit your nominations by Saturday, 15th November 2008 to tushneem.dharmagadda@netsapboston.org Click here for details on the The letter of intent and Board Member responsibilities.

NetSAP Discounted Events: "One Night in India" - Gala with Fashion Show at Taj Boston & Pandit Jasraj Concert at MIT

Continuing on our efforts to bring our members more discounted events, we have two popular events on October 24th and October 25th - "One Night in India" - Gala with Fashion Show at Taj Boston & Pandit Jasraj Concert at MIT. More details are below.

NetSAP Boston is striving hard to bring more more value for their membership by partnering with several organizations in the New England region. Our partners are listed on our alliances page and their events are posted on our forum. If you are not a NetSAP Boston member yet, take advantage of the 2009 Membership promotion and sign up now!

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"One Night in India" - Gala & Runway Fashion Show by Shelley Chhabra Bridal's
Hosted at Taj Boston Hotel
Sponsored by NetSAP Boston, Safar Boston & Leader Bank

A fashionable evening in the Taj Boston Grand Ballroom with award winning Indian appetizers, music by the legendary DJ Babyface, hosted drink tickets, and a runway fashion show unveiling Shelley Chhabra's 2009 collection.

Tickets are a discounted $40 for Netsap members and can be purchased online. Afterparty at Boston's Underbar.

Date: Saturday, October 25th, 2008
Time: 8pm to Midnight
Place: Taj Boston, 15 Arlington Street, Boston, MA 02116
Price: General Admission $50, NetSAP Members $40
Registration:
Members: Click here (Membership will be validated)
Non-Members: Click here

NetSAP Membership will be verified.

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MITHAS presents Sangeet Martand Pandit Jasraj
Khyal -Hindustani Vocal Signature Fundraiser concert

With
Pandita Tripti Mukherjee - Vocal Support
Aditya Narayan Bannerjee and Nitin Mitta on Tabla
Madhu Vora on Harmonium

NetSAP Members only - 20% off on any level seating (with valid NetSAP ID) - Pls. use coupon code - NETSAP20 while purchasing. Offer not valid for purchases already made without using the coupon code.

When: Friday, October 24, 2008
6:30 PM - Pre-concert reception with a musical colloquium by George Ruckert, an accomplished Sarod player and the founder of MITHAS
8:00 PM - Fundraising Concert

Where: Kresge Auditorium, MIT
FREE parking available in MIT's West Garage on 125 Vassar Street
http://whereis.mit.edu/map-jpg?selection=W45

Event Details & Registration: Click here

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SIGN UP FOR 2009 NetSAP BOSTON MEMBERSHIP

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Prudential signs up as a NetSAP Boston Sponsor

We are glad to announce that Prudential has signed up as a NetSAP Boston Gold Sponsor. Considering that this sponsorship support from Prudential comes despite the chaos in the financial markets and economic turmoil, just goes on to show the strong commitment of the company towards the communities that they work in. It also reinforces the dominant and influential role that NetSAP Boston plays in the New England region.

NetSAP Boston Executive board thanks Prudential for their support. As always funds from this sponsorship will be used to improve the quality of NetSAP events and to support all our non-profit charity organizations in the area. To read more about these initiatives please read the many articles on our blog: Human Face of NetSAP Boston, Note from Vibha, Note from India School Fund, Note from Sahayta.

We would also like to take this opportunity to thank all the sponsors who have continuously supported NetSAP Boston over the last 3 years...

NetSAP discounts for 2 awesome events: ForSE 2008: Forum for Social Entrepreneurs & Indian Ocean Rock-Fusion Concert

NetSAP Members can avail of discounts for two popular events this weekend - ForSE 2008: Forum for Social Entrepreneurs & Indian Ocean Rock-Fusion Concert. More details are below.

NetSAP Boston partners with several organizations in the New England region to give its members a wide choice of events (apart from the regular NetSAP Boston events) and more value for their membership. Our partners are listed on our alliances page and their events are posted on our forum. If you are not a NetSAP Boston member yet, take advantage of the 2009 Membership promotion and sign up now!

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ForSE 2008: Forum for Social Entrepreneurs

ForSE 2008 brings together social innovators, business professionals, investors, donors, academics, and students to share technology, business ideas and management learnings and to foster discussion and action on new social venture concepts.

Date: Friday October 10, 2008
Time: 9.00 am to 5.30 pm
Place: Graduate School of Management, Boston University, 595 Commonwealth Ave., Boston Ma 02215
Price: General Admission $75, TiE members/NetSAP Members/BU affiliates $35, Students $20
Register: http://www.bu.edu/forse

Select TiE as your affiliation (from the drop-down box) when you register for this event. NetSAP Membership will be verified.

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Indian Ocean Rock-Fusion Concert Live @ MIT; NetSAP Special Offer

"Indian Ocean does with Indian music what I always wanted to do with Chinese music." - Yo-Yo Ma.
Association for India's Development (Boston/MIT chapters) invites you to experience the best of Indian rock-fusion music and to make a difference by supporting a great cause. Indian Ocean is currently one of the most popular fusion bands in the world. With an electrifying stage presence that matches their phenomenal talent, the group blends Indian rock, folk, and classical music and various other styles, truly creating music without boundaries. All proceeds to towards supporting sustainable development projects in India.

$5 off per ticket for NetSAP members. Enter discount code: NETSAP on the online tickets page to receive discounted tickets. You can get additional 'early bird' discount if you buy on/before October 1st. Discounts are limited to online purchase.

When: Sunday, October 5th, 6:00-9:00PM (doors open at 5:30PM)
Where: MIT Kresge Auditorium. 48 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA
Event Details & Registration: http://www.aidevent.org/MIT

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SIGN UP FOR 2009 NetSAP BOSTON MEMBERSHIP

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New and Upgraded NetSAP Boston Forums - Reach out to the community!

We recently upgraded the forums on the NetSAP Boston website. The forum is a great way to interact with other people in the community, learn about non-netsap events, new job opportunities and more.


Discounted Events: Many events posted on the forum by our alliance partners offer discounted and special pricing for NetSAP Members. So take advantage of these offers.

Job Opportunities: Our sponsors and members post new job openings on the forum. It is a very effective way to hire people from a network that you know of and where you can get easy references.

Activity Partners: Mingle with other people in the community around your favorite activities. More networking outside of NetSAP events

Housing & Rentals: Looking for roommates or a home for yourself. Where else to find someone from the community other than this forum.

Classifieds: Post Ads about anything that you want to sell, buy or barter.

RSS Feeds: Dont have time to visit the forum every day? Subscribe to the RSS feeds and get the latest posts right into your browser or your favorite RSS reader.

All forum posts are sent out in our weekly newsletter and also appear on our home page www.netsapboston.org (center right box). So the visibility is very high.

Try it out at www.netsapboston.org/forums

Nominations now Open for NetSAP 2009 Executive Board!

NetSAP Boston Annual Elections

The Network of South Asian Professionals of Boston (NetSAP-Boston) invites dynamic, creative and motivated members to take up leadership positions in the 2009 Executive Board. If you are interested in becoming part of the NetSAP Board, please send in your nomination for a position that suits your interests and talents from the list below. Elections will be held on Saturday, November 15th, 2008. Other Chair positions on the Board will be nominated soon after.

Deadline for sending nominations is Sunday, November 2nd, 2008

Volunteering on the NetSAP-Boston Board allows you to enhance your resume, expand your professional network in the Greater-Boston area and be recognized in the community for your contributions. Read our blog article "Five Great Reasons to Volunteer for NetSAP-Boston".
If you cannot commit much time but still want to get actively involved with NetSAP-Boston, join our volunteer group. Email Sheila Rajan, Secretary at sheila.rajan@netsapboston.org

To declare your candidacy, submit one-page letter of intent to Tushneem Dharmagadda, President, NetSAP-Boston & Elections Officer at tushneem.dharmagadda@netsapboston.org by Sunday, November 2nd, 2008.

The letter of intent should address the following and should be limited to less than 500 words.

• Your professional background
• A brief history of your past extra-curricular activities and achievements.
• Why should you be chosen for the position?
  • Your motivation to join or continue on the NetSAP-Boston Executive Board
  • Ideas and Vision that you will bring to NetSAP-Boston and how they can
    contribute to the growth of the organization

Please note that all Executive Board members are required to attend monthly Board meetings. Executive Board members should also be willing to take an active and helpful role in all the activities and events that NetSAP-Boston has to offer.

Position Responsibilities & Duties Avg. Time Commitment The following positions on the 2008 Executive Board are contested President Provide leadership, vision and guidance to the team in all areas.Manage the overall flow of activities and events; 8-10 hours / week Vice President Responsible for creating alliance partner relationships, external communications and building the NetSAP-Boston brand. Coordinate all teams (social, professional, community, cultural, membership and sponsorship). Work hand-in-glove with the President in all these activities 6-8 hours / week Treasurer Oversee and manage finance for NetSAP-Boston, including generating periodical reports. Maintains all financial records. Work hand-in-glove with Sponsorship Chair in building the financial status of NetSAP-Boston 4-6 hours / week Secretary Responsible for, managing internal communications, board meetings and newsletter. Keep an on-going record of all activities and events. Help President and Vice-President coordinate all teams. 4-6 hours / week National Liaison Coordinate communication between NetIP-NA and NetSAP-Boston. Attend all meetings and conference calls and represent NetSAP-Boston in the National organization. Work with respective Chairs and develop initiatives at NetSAP-Boston with National significance. This includes membership incentives and sponsorship opportunities 2-4 hours / week The following positions on the 2008 Executive Board are Nominated by the President & Board of Directors (Vice President, Treasurer, & Secretary) Website Director Multiple Openings Maintain, update and develop the NetSAP Boston website; Assist with all web-related NetSAP activities including forums. Requires knowledge of basic HTML and JavaScript. Knowledge of PHP scripting language preferred. 3-5 hours / week Membership / Marketing Chair Multiple Openings Take a proactive role in constantly increasing membership base by devising new strategies; Manage all marketing-related activities for the organization and Alliance partner relationships. 3-5 hours / week Sponsorship Chair Multiple Openings Responsible for securing sponsors for NetSAP-Boston. This key position involves building relationships and securing sponsorships from corporations and other potential local organizations to achieve annual sponsorship goals to support NetSAP-Boston 3-5 hours / week Social / Networking Events Chairs Multiple Openings Develop and manage all social & networking events; Organize all monthly social events; Organize an additional 4 to 6 networking events per year. 3-5 hours / week Professional Development Chairs Multiple Openings Develop and manage all professional development events which include panel discussions, speaker series, and mentoring events; Organize 6 to 8 professional events per year. 3-5 hours / week Cultural/Theatrics Chair Multiple Openings Develop and manage all cultural/theatrics events which include Gala events, celebration of festivals, Chai chats and plays; Organize 3 to 4 cultural events per year. 3-5 hours / week Community Service Events Chair Multiple Openings Develop and manage all community service initiatives which include volunteering events, fund-raising initiatives and social entrepreneurship panels; Organize 3 to 4 community events per year. 3-5 hours / week NetSAP Forum Moderators Multiple Openings Moderate and maintiain User-Forum on the NetSAP website. 3-5 hours / week
	Please Submit your nominations by Sunday, November 2nd to tushneem.dharmagadda@netsapboston.org
Thank you and we look forward to your declaration of candidacy. If you have questions on any of these positions or need to discuss more, email Tushneem Dharmagadda, President, at tushneem.dharmagadda@netsapboston.org Sincerely, The 2008 Executive Board Network of South Asian Professionals of Boston (NetSAP-Boston)

Its a Hattrick! NetSAP Boston wins the Best Large Chapter Award 3rd time in a row!

Dear Member & Patrons,

Thanks to your unconditional support for the organization, the tons of new initiatives, and exciting events in our Chapter, we were able to win the NetIP's Best Large Chapter Award for 2008. This is the third consecutive year that NetSAP-Boston has won this award.

Considering that we had to compete with 22 other NetIP chapters in the US & Canada to win this award it is no ordinary feat. This obviously could not have possible without the extra-ordinary efforts of the many NetSAP board members and volunteers who worked very hard this year. Kudos to each of them for making this happen.

We are also excited to announce that the 17th Annual NetIP National Conference in 2008 that was hosted by NetSAP-Boston was an overwhelming success. More details are on the conference blog

As always we are looking for motivated volunteers to help us out. Read more about benefits of volunteering and feel free to contact us for more information.

Also read NetSAP-Boston does it Again - Wins NetIP's Best Large Chapter Award for 2007

2009 Membership Promotion and Renewals! Take advantage now!

Dear NetSAP Boston Members & Patrons,

NetSAP Boston's membership promotion for 2009 has begun and ends on January 31st 2009. A typical member in 2008 received over $500* of benefits for a fee of just $50.

There are numerous benefits and advantages of becoming a member.

NetSAP Boston Membership also gives you:

• Access to member-only events, preference and discounts at all NetIP events
  
  
• Discounted access to events of 20+ NetSAP Boston Alliance Partners
  Recent Discounted Partner Events:
  NetSAP discounts for 2 awesome events: ForSE 2008: Forum for Social Entrepreneurs & Indian Ocean Rock-Fusion Concert
  NetSAP Discounted Events: "One Night in India" - Gala with Fashion Show at Taj Boston & Pandit Jasraj Concert at MIT
  
  
• Discounts at Museums, Professional coaching organizations and other vendors
  
  
• $5 referral bonus for each new member that you refer to NetSAP Boston

For a comprehensive list visit www.netsapboston.org/join

As a token of our appreciation, we are offering discounted rates for renewing the 2008 membership. An email with a link for discounted purchase will be sent out soon. If you are a 2008 member and have not received this email please contact Sanjay Tamhane, Membership Chair at membership@netsapboston.org ASAP.

If you sign up for membership now, the following promotional rates will apply:
New Members
Individual Membership: $45
Couple Membership: $75
Students: $30

Existing 2008 Members ('08 members renewing for '09)
Individual Membership: $30
Couple Membership: $55
An email with the Online Renewal Link will be sent out to 2008 members soon. We also encourage renewal at our events.

Our referral program still continues. If you are a current member and refer a new member to NetSAP Boston, you will immediately get $5 in referral benefit.
[when you ask your friends to sign up for membership online on our website www.netsapboston.org/join ask them to provide your name in the "Referred By" box and we will send you a referral check for the total number of new members referred by you at the end of every month.]

We hope that you will take advantage of this exciting offer. In addition to supporting a non-profit organization and it's programs, you will also become part of one of the most influential South-Asian communities in New England.

Sincerely,
NetSAP Boston Executive Board

Relive your Memories - Showcasing NetSAP Boston at The 17th Annual NetIP Conference

Showcasing NetSAP Boston at
The 17th Annual NetIP Conference

Professional Seminars & Dinner Circles
(Now with Top-notch Speakers)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~



For those of you who like professional seminars & Dinner Circles at NetSAP Boston, the Conference takes it a level higher with top-notch speakers and engaging topics from Opportunities in India to Healthcare to Social Entrepreneurship. On top of these, the workshops and networking events allow you to expand your professional circle.


Theatric Plays & Acting Workshops
(Now with Documentary screening, Art Exhibitions & 3 Workshops)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~



If you loved our Plays and the theatric workshops, the Conference boasts of interesting documentaries, art galleries and 3 different acting workshops for amateurs! Learn how to act and watch how professionals from mainstream professions just like you are making their hobbies/passion into careers!

Sunset Cruise
(Now on the Odyssey)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~



For those of you who had tons of fun on our Sunset Cruise last year, imagine how much more fun it would be on the Odyssey Cruise with 850 people - an elegant sit-down dinner, dance floor and great music!

Wine N' Greet
(Now with 150 people & its Speed-dating)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~



If you loved to meet people at our Wine n Greet events at Vinalia, the Conference boasts of the biggest Wine n Greet ever. And yes, unlike our regular Wine n Greets, this is a speed-dating event. So if you want to make friends or you are looking for that someone special you don't want to miss this opportunity!

The Classy Gala
(Now with 850 people and a Red Carpet)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~



For those who loved our classy Annual Gala in November last year, the gala at the Conference will take you out of this world. A Red Carpet Themed Gala with tons of entertainment (including our very own Boston Bhangra, Comedian Rajiv Satyal, Jazz Band...) and class!


Come Experience Your Favorite NetSAP Boston Events
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The 17th Annual NetIP Conference 2008!
www.netipconference.org


Join 850 other professionals this labor day weekend to
Explore. Dream. Discover.

Registrations Prices are going up, so Register Soon!

The Sweet Deal: 50% off on 2009 Membership for those who attend the NetIP Conference in August

The Conference Offer - Discounted Membership

Dear NetSAP Boston Members,

As many of you are aware, NetSAP Boston is hosting the 17th Annual NetIP
Conference this year in Boston. Several NetSAP board members are busy planning and working hard to make this flagship event very memorable! Based on the content and the response we got so far, we are confident that it is going to be an amazing experience for you!

For the unconditional support you have shown for NetSAP Boston so far, we want to thank you and show our gratitude through this sweet deal.

Every 2008 NetSAP Boston Member who attends the NetIP/NetSAP Conference in August, will get 50% OFF on the 2009 NetSAP Boston Membership.

(Offer not valid for Student Memberships. Your 2009 Membership will be valid at any NetIP/NetSAP Chapter in the country. So get the value even if you plan on moving out of Boston sometime next year!)

Come enjoy all your favorite NetSAP Boston events at the Conference in August and Relive your memories!

Members from 23 NetIP/NetSAP Chapters across the country will make it to the Conference this year and it will be great to see "Our Chapter" - NetSAP Boston represented in large numbers and show everyone what Bostonians are all about - Fun, Entertaining, Classy, and Sport loving (except the yankees :) right?).

Note: Registrations Prices will keep going up every week and will close by mid-August. Take advantage of the low prices, Sign Up For NetSAP Boston Membership and Register for the Conference soon!

We look forward to seeing you all at the Conference!

Tushneem Dharmagadda, President, NetSAP Boston
Pallavi Chhabra, Vice President, NetSAP Boston
Sanjay Tamhane, Membership & Marketing Chair, NetSAP Boston

Membership Prices Reduced – Take Advantage and Join NetSAP Boston Today

The NetSAP Board would like to announce that we are reducing membership prices! Membership prices have been pro-rated as follows:

Individual: $40
Couple: $70
Student: $25

With the members-only National NetIP Conference just around the corner, now is a great chance to join NetSAP Boston. For more information on joining, please visit: http://www.netsapboston.org/join.html

As a bonus, if you join before June 20^th, you will be able to attend the NetIP Annual Conference kick-off party at Felt for FREE! The kick-off party promises to be a fantastic event. Come to Felt where you can sip delicious cocktails, enjoy complimentary appetizers, network with NetSAP members and learn more about the upcoming conference! In addition, attendees will be granted admission to the 4^th floor of Felt after 11:00pm. For more information on the kick-off party, please visit: http://www.netsapboston.org/events/2008/conferencekickoff.html

As a reminder, there are a number of other benefits to joining NetSAP Boston:

• Discounts worth over $300 at NetSAP events throughout the year
• Access to Member-only events and preference at all NetSAP events
• $5 in referral benefit when you refer a new member to NetSAP Boston
• Membership valid at 22 NetIP/NetSAP chapters throughout the US and Canada
• Discounted access to 15+ NetSAP-Boston Alliance Partners
• Exclusive discounted access to the 17th Annual NetIP Conference in Boston.
• Avail 15% discount at Peabody Essex Museum
• 2-year complimentary subscription to Indus Business Journal
• $300 off on exclusive GMAT Course with Princeton Review